Akansha Jain PG.

Diploma in Textile Designing Dayalbagh Educational Institute, Dayalbagh, Agra INTRODUCTION Retailing involves selling products and services to consumers for their individual or family use. As the final link between consumers and manufacturers, retailers are a vital part of the business world. Retailers add value to products by making it easier for manufactures to sell and consumers to buy. Modern retailing has entered India in the form of mall and huge complexes offering shopping, entertainment, leisure to the consumer as the retailer experiment with variety of formats. ORIGIN OF RETAIL SECTOR It is likely that, as market became more permanent fixtures that evolved into shops although advantageous in many respects, this removed the mobility that a peddler or a travelling merchant may still have enjoyed. This would recover business from peddler and create new business and the greater volume would allow the shopkeeper to strike a better deal with supplier. Thus the retail chain started. FIRST SELF-SERVICE STORE This all changed in 1915 when Albert Gerrard open the groceteria in Los Angeles, the first documented self service store. This was followed a year later by Piggy Wiggly self service store in U.S. FACTS ABOUT INDIAN RETAIL SECTOR Fastest growing sector in Indian economy It is providing employment around 8 % of total employable population of India. FDI is allowed MAJOR RETAIL SECTORS IN INDIA: Pantaloons, Cross word, Westside, Big Bazaar, Reliance, etc

CONCLUSION Retail sector, one of Indias largest industries has presently emerged as one of the most dynamic and fast paced industries of our times with several players entering the market. India is being seen as a potential goldmine for retail investors from over the world As the contemporary retail sector in India is reflected in shopping centers, multiplex- malls and huge complexes offer shopping, entertainment and food all under one roof, the concept of shopping has altered in terms of format and consumer buying behavior, ushering in a revolution in shopping in India. This has also contributed to large scale investments in the real estate sector with major national and global players investing in developing the infrastructure and construction of the retailing business. Retailing in India is gradually inching its way toward becoming the next boom industry.